Things to Do in Belgium in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Belgium
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring weather is genuinely lovely - you'll get those crisp mornings around 9°C (48°F) warming to comfortable 17°C (63°F) afternoons, perfect for walking between chocolate shops without overheating or freezing
- Crowds are manageable before peak summer tourism hits - you can actually get decent photos at the Belfry of Bruges without 50 people photobombing, and restaurants don't require reservations weeks ahead
- Outdoor café culture comes alive in May - locals finally emerge after winter and the terraces fill up with people nursing afternoon beers, which means you're experiencing the city as Belgians actually live it
- Spring produce season brings white asparagus mania - from late April through June, you'll find asperges blanches on every menu, and locals take this vegetable absurdly seriously in the best possible way
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable - that 10 rainy days stat doesn't tell the whole story, because you might get sudden showers mixed with sunshine three times in one afternoon, which makes planning outdoor activities frustrating
- It's not actually warm despite what 17°C (63°F) sounds like - the 70% humidity and variable conditions mean some days feel colder than the thermometer suggests, especially in coastal cities like Ostend where wind cuts through everything
- Major holidays cluster awkwardly - Ascension Day and Whit Monday fall in May, which means some smaller museums and shops close unpredictably, and Belgians themselves are traveling, which drives up accommodation prices on long weekends
Best Activities in May
City walking tours through medieval centers
May weather is actually ideal for covering the 5-8 km (3-5 miles) you'll walk exploring places like Bruges, Ghent, or Antwerp. The temperature stays comfortable for hours of wandering, and spring light makes the canal reflections particularly photogenic around golden hour. The variable weather keeps crowds slightly thinner than summer months, so you're not shuffling through the Graslei shoulder-to-shoulder. Early morning walks around 8-9am give you near-empty cobblestone streets before tour groups arrive around 10:30am.
Belgian beer experiences and brewery visits
May marks the transition to lighter beer season - you'll find seasonal spring brews appearing alongside the heavy Trappist ales, and brewery terraces open for the season. The moderate temperatures mean you can comfortably spend afternoons in non-air-conditioned tasting rooms without sweating through a 9% ABV Dubbel. Locals actually start switching to lighter Saisons and wheat beers in May, so you're drinking seasonally appropriate styles. The Pajottenland region southwest of Brussels is particularly good now for lambic producers before summer heat affects production.
Cycling routes through Flanders countryside
May is arguably the best cycling month in Belgium - the knooppunt junction network is fully signed after winter maintenance, roads are clear of ice and salt residue, and temperatures sit in that perfect range where you're warm while pedaling but not overheating on hills. The countryside is genuinely green right now with spring growth, and you'll pass fields of early crops rather than the brown winter landscape. Flemish Ardennes routes around Oudenaarde offer 30-50 km (19-31 mile) loops through rolling hills, while flatter Bruges-Damme routes work for casual riders covering 20-30 km (12-19 miles).
North Sea coastal activities and beach towns
May is when coastal Belgium transitions from dead-quiet to pleasantly active without summer insanity. Water temperature is still cold at around 13°C (55°F), so swimming is for hardy locals only, but beach walking, dune hiking, and coastal cycling are excellent. The wind can be brutal - expect 20-30 km/h (12-19 mph) regularly - but that keeps the beaches uncrowded. De Panne to Knokke coastal tram runs the full 67 km (42 mile) coast for €7.50 and makes a surprisingly good day trip. Ostend's fish markets are active with spring North Sea catches, and seaside restaurants aren't yet overrun.
Art museum circuits and cultural institutions
May weather's unpredictability makes it smart to have indoor backup plans, and Belgium's museum density is absurd - you're never more than 15 minutes from a world-class collection. Spring exhibition schedules are in full swing, and you'll avoid the July-August crush of school groups. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels, SMAK in Ghent, and MAS in Antwerp all have substantial collections that require 2-3 hours minimum. On rainy afternoons, locals pack into museums, so visit mornings between 10am-12pm for thinner crowds.
Ardennes forest hiking and nature areas
The Belgian Ardennes in May means proper spring conditions - forests are leafed out but not yet dense with summer growth, wildflowers are active, and trails are dry enough for comfortable hiking after winter mud. Temperatures in the Ardennes run 2-3°C (4-5°F) cooler than Brussels, so that 17°C (63°F) becomes a perfect hiking temperature. The High Fens plateau near Eupen offers 10-20 km (6-12 mile) loops through unique bogland, while the Semois Valley has gentler riverside walks. Wildlife is more active in spring before summer heat.
May Events & Festivals
Ascension Day and Whit Monday bank holidays
These moveable Christian holidays fall in May most years and create long weekends when Belgians travel domestically. Not tourist events per se, but they significantly affect availability and pricing. Expect coastal towns, the Ardennes, and popular cities to fill up with Belgian families. Some smaller museums and shops close, though major attractions stay open. The upside is you'll see how locals actually vacation - beach promenades fill with families eating frites, hiking trails get busy with Belgian walkers.
Kunstenfestivaldesarts Brussels
Brussels' major contemporary performing arts festival runs late April through May, bringing experimental theater, dance, and performance art to venues across the city. This is genuinely avant-garde stuff, not tourist-friendly folklore - expect challenging work that locals actually attend. Performances happen in both traditional theaters and unconventional spaces. If you're into contemporary arts, this is when Brussels' cultural scene is most active. Tickets range €10-35 depending on venue.
White asparagus season peak
Not an event exactly, but asparagus season is treated with festival-level seriousness in Belgium from late April through June. May is peak season when you'll find asperges blanches on restaurant menus everywhere, often served simply with butter sauce, ham, and boiled eggs. Markets sell them by the kilo, and locals buy them obsessively. Restaurants in Mechelen and Leuven particularly embrace asparagus season. It's a genuine cultural phenomenon worth experiencing if you're even remotely interested in food.